All round supplement (not balancer) plus calmer?

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Theocat

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Sorry, I know there are hundreds of threads on supplements and balancers but the search inevitably brings up millions of threads!

I'm going to switch my horse away from TopSpec cool balancer - he's been a tiny bit too well covered all summer and could still do with a fraction coming off, with the result that I've been reduced to cutting his balancer in half, which is pretty pointless. I'd like to move to a straight supplement so I can minimise the calories when I need to.

Twice a day he'll be getting:
A smallish scoop of sugar beet (perhaps half a stubbs scoop when soaked)
Dengie Healthy Hooves (as required, but likely to be about one stubbs scoop in winter unless / until he loses a bit, and reduced right down in summer or as necessary)

If he needs more I'll up the healthy hooves and he'll get some sort of high-fibre nuts and linseed or oil.

He's on good grazing in the day, in at night on good quality hay, and in light work - three or four sessions a week in winter of hacking, schooling and the odd competition, with very limited jumping now and again.

He's not getting the recommended daily quantity of Healthy Hooves, so I'd like to feed:

A general all-purpose supplement for vits and minerals
A calmer
Something extra to help his feet - we've just taken his backs off and the fronts might follow if he copes (he's got excellent feet but he's a natural wuss!)

Is there one thing that would do all of this? I can feed more if necessary but it would be great if it's an all-in-one.

He's on the TopSpec calmer at the moment at about a third of the recommended dose, but it's expensive if I'm feeding something else alongside it as well, hence wanting to combine everything as much as possible, although I don't mind paying more for a good supplement if it will do more!

Forage analysis isn't really viable as he's at livery with different fields and different hay.

Recommendations would be great - I was looking at Lifeforce and I like the look of the the Lexvet Cool, or would I be better with something like Equivite plus calmer and something for feet?
 
Our pony used to be on top spec cool balancer and we have switched to pro balance recently. I spoke with the people at progressive eart about my concerns of the pony no longer being on a calmer and they explained how pro balance had more magnesium than the top spec.
I was really unsure as the pony had done so well the top spec and also much calmer but gave it a go and am pleased to say she has remained calm and is probably more chilled than when on the top spec. Hope that helps.
 
Spiller Lite balancer ( sorry know you said no balancers) but it has the correct amounts of vits and mins a horse needs....try adding Mag Ox, it will help his feet and remove any fatty pads...and try speedibeet or fast fibre, less sugar for reducing those calories!
 
I thought dengie healthy hooves, when fed at recommended quantities, provided all necessary vits and minerals? I thought that was the point of it - a low calorie balancer suitable for laminitis and good doers.
 
I am sorry to point out that most calories will probably be from the grass and hays as they make up by far the bulk of the diet. Most balancers aren't full of calories but do have minerals that most horses require as perfectly balanced grazing is rare.
A good quality balancer is needed for most horses imho.
 
JenJ said:
I thought dengie healthy hooves, when fed at recommended quantities, provided all necessary vits and minerals? I thought that was the point of it - a low calorie balancer suitable for laminitis and good doers.
Click to expand...

Yep, you're right, Healthy Hooves is designed to be fed as a complete feed and if fed at the recommended rates you don't need to add a vit/min supplement. And it's only 6.5% starch + sugars.

OP be careful you don't overdo things :-) Why don't you just feed HH at the recommended rate and see how you go? If he drops condition you could then add sugar beet and/or linseed.
 
If you are trying to shift a bit of weight, you are better of with a hi fi molasses free and a lite balancer (like spillers), healthy hooves/happy hoof has a lot more sugar/starch than you think!! More exercise if possible helps too and the mag ox helps with calming, feet and fat pads.....i know this because i have a cushings horse who was over weight and had low grade laminitis..........If he loses condition, you can up the micronised linseed, to slow his chewing down, add fast fibre/speedi beet...good luck
 
How about TopSpec All in One Supplement? I feed it in a little fast fibre to my good doers with some chop. I would prefer to give fast fibre than sugar beet
 
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Thanks for all replies!

The recommended rate is more than he needs, hence the question - if I could feed it at the full rate it wouldn't be a problem. He's not fat, just always seems to be just fractionally better covered than I'd like, so I'd prefer not to have to put in any more calories than I have to - hence wanting a supplement rather than a balancer.
 
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